A couple of weeks after Iberia will confirm that it will be the first airline to operate the A321XLR Worldwide, this Thursday (13th) the first long-haul flights with this aircraft became available, which due to its performance will change the rules in many markets.
The first transatlantic flight A321XLR It will be on November 14 between Madrid and Boston, taking off from the Spanish capital at 12:35 to arrive at 3:00 p.m. after 8 hours 25 minutes.
According to Aeroroutes, the A321XLR will replace the A330s on three of the four weekly flights that Iberia operates between Madrid and Bostonand starting December 15 it will do so on seven flights per week.
On the other hand, on January 15, 2025, the A321XLR will debut on the road Madrid – Washington DC operating six flights weekly.
The aircraft will depart from Barajas airport as IB361 at 1:00 p.m. to arrive in Washington DC at 4:20 p.m. after 9 hours 20 minutes. The return as IB362 will be at 17:50, arriving in Madrid at 7:35 the next day. The flight operates every day except Saturdays.
The A321XLR of Iberia They will have 14 flat-bed seats with 18-inch individual screens in Business to offer the same premium experience as on wide-body aircraft. In Economy there will be 168 Recaro model CL3810 seats that will allow a four-inch recline. All cabins will have enhanced USB Type A and C charging ports, and seat tables are designed so passengers can comfortably place their electronic devices to access in-flight entertainment via Wi-fi.
Iberia will receive the first A321XLR after the summer, with another seven more joining in the following months. This aircraft, equipped with additional auxiliary tanks, has the ability to make flights of up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers). To take advantage of this increased fuel capacity, the maximum takeoff weight of the A321XLR has been increased to 101 tonnes, compared to 97 tonnes for its predecessor, the A321LR. In addition, the landing gear has been reinforced.
In April, during an event, Marco Sansavini, CEO of Iberia, had highlighted the advantages of reaching destinations in Canada, such as Montreal or Toronto, which are not currently served by Iberia. There was also speculation about establishing non-stop flights to the northeast of Brazil, such as Fortaleza, Recife or Salvador, where TAP Air Portugal already flies with the A321LR, a version with a range 1,300 kilometers shorter than the XLR.
